17. 300

Book 17: 300 by Frank Miller (A+)

Gerard Butler as Leonidas

Yes!! AWESOME!!! This was just as epic and unbelievable as the movie... or actually, the movie was as epic and unbelievable as the graphic novel. 
I had a bit of a time at first getting use to the format of a graphic novel. I never read nor enjoyed comic books growing up, but this was different enough that I was able to quickly master reading a graphic novel and extremely enjoyed it. The colors and art were amazingly detailed and beautiful yet gory. The story of 300 is not for the faint-hearted!
The film based off this novel is so close to the book, word for word, that no one can say "well I liked the book better." It's practically pages turned into film with one exception. You miss the behind-the-scenes of what's happening in Sparta with the queen while Leonidas and his 300 men are fighting the Persians. And, those are my favorite scenes!

The woman who played the queen is the movie is downright beautiful in every sense of the word and her character is strong and provides quite a spark. She flaunts the Spartan women way of life as an outspoken, passionate woman who cares for both her husband and her people with unmatchable fierceness. Included in her scenes that do not appear in the graphic novel is the standard Hollywood sex scene between the king and queen before the battle. This scene, surprisingly enough for the type of movie that 300 is, is not extremely graphic, short in length with random images of pleasure to a slow tribal song. 
If you loved the movie, go to your nearest library and read the book!!!! If you've never seen the movie, go to your nearest library and to your local Blockbuster/Movie Gallery/Red Box and rent it!!!!!!!! It is a must!

"THIS IS SPARTA!"